Michigan Officials Confirm Cougar In U.P.

HOUGHTON (AP) - Michigan wildlife officials have confirmed the presence of a cougar in the Upper Peninsula's Houghton County.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the animal was photographed by a trail camera on Saturday and state officials confirmed the camera's location on Monday. The DNR says it's believed to be the same cougar confirmed earlier this month in adjoining Ontonogan County.

Officials have said the cougar could have trekked from the western U.S., since that area of the country has cougars collared for research.

Cougars were native to Michigan, but the state's last known wild cougar was killed near Newberry in 1906. Several sets of tracks have been verified and a photo was confirmed in recent years in the Upper Peninsula.

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